Improvement in fruit-cans



AUSTIN A. WILCOX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

iMPRovi-:MENT IN FRulT-CANS.

specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,710, aurea March 19,1872.

To all whom t may "concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN A. WrLooX, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-(lans 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in'the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in Which- Figure lis a top view of the device illus- -trating my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, the body of the can being broken zltway. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in line :v rv,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The objects to be derived, in tin or metallic cans for the preservation of fruit, &c., are to provide simple and reliable means of fasten i ing or closing the cans and render the lids,

bulge at certain points, and unless this is prevented air is admitted into the can and the contents thereof are rendered unfit for use.

My invention is designed to remedy these evils and possesses the advantages set forth. It consists in an independent ring having a series of inclined projections, the ring lying on the lid or cover, and the projections adapted to engage with lugs or catches on the can, so that, by rotation, the inclined projections will cause the ring to tighten, and thus press firmly the lid, which, in turn, will beheld securely and uniformly on its seat.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the body of the can, and B the lid thereof. This lid will rest on a rubber gasket or'packing, C,

located as usually, and has its main portion pref'- era-bly raised, so as to leave a depressed edge orrim, D. On this rim is laid a ring or band, E, Which I term the coniinin g and tightening ring, and has formed with it a series of projections, F, Whose upper faces are inclined in the direction of their lengths, beginning at or about the upper side of thering. A series ofhook-shaped projections and lugs come to a bearing with each other.

In operation the can is properly iilledvwith the fruit or other article to be preserved. The lid is then laid on the top of the can and the ring placed in position on the lid. By rotating the ring the inclined projections move under the hooked lugs, and the resulty is that the ring is forced down against the top, which,

`in turn, is pressed firmly on its seat, and thus the can is securely closed.

It will be seen that the ring presses uniform ly on the top or cover, and, consequently, the latter cannot bulge at any portion of its cir cumference.

In practice the ring and projections will preferably be formed of cast metal. rIhe ring encircles the raised portions ofthe top or cover, and thus serves to hold it in place While4 being ap plied to the can. After the can is emptied of its contents, the ring and top will be found to be readily available for subsequent use.

VheD, as is common, the hooked lugs are arranged to project over the sides of the can to engage projections thereon to lock the same in position, the fastening devices would interfere with and prevent close packing of a num- Y uary, 1872.

l AUSTIN A. WILCOX. Witnesses:

J oHN` A. Wrnnnnsnnmr, i ALFRED C. SAvrDen. 

